Violin-mute operator.



R. OLMEDO.

VIOLIN MUTE OPERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 17. I916.

Patented Feb. 13, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

j'afl/eZ fiJmed/o R. OLMEDO.

VIOLIN MUTE OPERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED me. I1, 1916.

1,215,973. Patented Feb. 13,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- LEE.

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RAFAEL GLTJLEDC' SF Eli-5N FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

J'IQLIN-I-Y'LUTE OPERATGR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 13, 191 '7.

Application filed January 17, 1916. Serial No. 72,555.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it l nown that l, RAFAEL OLMEDO, a citizen of the Republic ofSalvador residing at Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and Stateof California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inViolinlviute Operators; and I do declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othis s --ed in the art to which it ap iertains to make and use the s[1116.

My invention relates broadly to improvements in musical instruments andmore particularly t a mechanically operated mute for attachment to theviolin, violoncello, viol, and bass viol, the object of the inventionbeing to provide an extremely simple and comparatively inexpensivedevice which may be easily attached and detached, yet one which,regardless of these characteristics, will be highly efiicient anddurable.

With this general object in view, the invention resides in certain novelfeatures of construction and in unique combinations of parts to behereinafter fully described and claimed the descriptive matter beingsupplemented by the accompanying drawings which constitute a part ofthis application and in which Figure l is perspective view of theinvention showing its application to a violin or viol;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view with parts removed and in section;

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the clamp used in attaching the deviceto the tail piece of the violin or viol;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the application of the improvedmute to a bass viol or Violoncello;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation partly in sec-. tion; and

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but taken at right angles thereto.

In specifically describing the construction shown in the drawings abovebriefly described, similar reference characters Will be placed oncorresponding parts throughout the several views and reference will beherein made to the numerous elements by their respective characters. Tothis end, the numeral 1 indicates a flat metal bar adapted to underliethe tail piece T of any one of the instruments above named, the

length of said bar varyingaccording to the size of the aforesaid tailpiece. Formed integrally with one end of the bar 1 and projecting inopposite directions therefrom, is a pair of comparatively long ears 2,while likewise formed integrally with the opposite end of said bar andextending in opposite directions from the edges thereof, is a secondpair of cars 9f. Hinged to one of the ears 2 at one of its ends, is anarched clamping bar 3 whose opposite end carries a set screw or the likea to be threaded in an opening in the other car 2, the bar 3 beingadapted to overlie the wide end of the tail piece T. A similarlyconstructed arched bar 3 is hinged at one end to one of the ears 2 andmay be secured in place by a thumb screw i said bar 3* being adapted tobe passed over the narrow end of the aforesaid tail piece. The centersof the arched bars 3 and 3 are formed with pairs of p rallel laterallyextending ears 5 and 5" secured thereto in any preferred manner butpreferably formed integrally therewith. v

The construction so far described will be used regardless of the styleof instrument to which the invention is applied, but will necessarilyvary slightly in size and shape. However, the remaining features of theattachment must vary considerably in order to adapt them for use uponhorizontal instruments such as the violin or viol, and instruments usedvertically such as the violoncello and bass viol.

When the invention is to be used on a violin or viol, a suitablyconstructed lever 6 is fulcrumed intermediate it's ends between the ears5, one end of said lever being tubular and receiving therein a stem 7carrying a transverse head 8 having a pad 9 to engage the strings of theinstrument at their points of contact with the bridge. The stem 7 isslidable in the tubular end of the lever 6 but is normally held againstmovement by a thumb screw or the like 10. Obviously, this arrangement ofparts allows the attachment to be varied in length for use oninstruments having different proportions.

The inner end of the lever 6 is provided with a longitudinally extendingtongue 11 overlying a similar tongue 12 on an operating lever 18 whichis fulcrumed intermediate its ends between the ears 5 both levers havingsprings 14 which serve to so rock Cir them as to retain the pad 9 out ofcontact with the strings of the instrument. However, the outer end ofthe lever 13 is provided with a chin plate 15 pivoted thereto topartially overlie and rest at its free end on the chin rest of theviolin as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Thus, when this plate is depressed bythe chin of the musician, the levers will be so actuated as to force thepad 9 against the strings and bridge.

lVhen the device is to be attached to a violoncello, or bass viol, alever 6 is mounted between the ears 5, said lever being of considerablygreater length than the lever 6, although it is constructed insubstantially the same manner and is equipped with a padded head S onits outer end. The inner end of said lever, however, is attached to acord or the like 13 running over a pulley 3" which is mounted betweenthe ears 5 From this pulley, the cord depends and is connected by anypreferred means with one end of an inclined spring raised foot lever 16which is hinged at its lower end to a horizontal foot board 17. uponwhich the musicians foot is adapted to' rest. Thus, by pushingdownwardly on the lever 16, the lever 6 will be rocked against thetension of a suitable spring to force its padded head 8 against thestrings and bridge of the instrument, thereby producing the resultsabove described.

Employed in connection with both types of the invention above described,is a casing 18 formed of sheet metal and bent into inverted ll-shape incross section, the ends of said casing snugly engaging the outer sidesof the ears 5 and 5 and being secured in position by any preferredmeans. Preferably, however, the side flanges of said casing are struckoutwardly at their opposite ends to form circular internal seats 19receiving the heads of the pins which pass through the aforesaid earFrom the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the construction, manner of operation andnumerous advantages of my invention will be readily understood withoutrequiring a more extended explanation. In conclusion, however, I wish tostate that although certain specific details of construc tion have beenshown and described for the attainment of probably the best results,numerous changes may be made within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

1 claim 1. An attachment of the class described comprising a pair ofspaced clamps to be secured on the tail piece of a stringed instrument,a rigid bar connecting said clamps, a pair of parallel ears extending inthe same direction from each clamp, a lever fulcrumed between one pairof ears and carrying a head to engage the instrument strings and thebridge, a spring for holding the lever in a position to retain the headout of contact with said strings and bridge, and means for rocking saidlever in cluding an element mounted between the other pair of ears.

2. An attachment of the class described comprising an elongated flat baradapted to underlie the. tail piece of a stringed instrument, earsformed integrally with and extending laterally in opposite directionsfrom the ends of said bar, a pair of flat arched clamping bars hinged atone end to the ears at one side of the aforesaid bar and adapted tooverlie the aforesaid tail piece, means for securing the other end ofthe clamping bars to the remaining ears, a pair of parallel earsextending laterally in the same direction from the center of eachclamping bar, a lever fulcrumed between one pair of said ears andcarrying a head to engage the strings and bridge of the instrument, aspring for normally holding said lever in a position to retain the headout of contact with the strings, and means for rocking the leverincluding an element mounted between the other pair of ears.

in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

RAFAEL OLMEDO.

Witnesses:

S. Dawson, Jose A. LIEVANO.

tleples at this patent may be obtained. for five cents each, byaddressing the Gommissioner o1 Patents, Washington, Ill. U.

